Tubular medicator



s- 1949- w. R. CEPERLY 2,479,002

TUBULAR MEDI CATOR Filed Dec. 6, 1946 WALTER R C'EPERLY Patented Aug. 16, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT ,GFFl-CE 2,479,002 Y 1 TUBULAR MEDIGATGR v Walter R. Ceperly, 'Chicagmlll. Application December 6, 1946, Serial No.7l4t410 s Claims. (01. 128-201) t v This invention relates to a smokeless cigarette, and more particularly to a device for dispensing medicaments or the like, adapted to be held in the users mouth in the manner of a cigarette, and from which the medicaments will seep or percolate under the influence of the warmth and moisture fromthe mouth.

One object of the invention is to provide a device which can be used to take the place of a cigarette by persons accustomed to smoking who are compelled, because of their employment or otherwise, to remain in places where smoking is prohibited.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a container having the form of a cigarette adapted to dispense substances through the mouth of the user and having means for maintaining the substance in a position in which it will be constantly subjected to the warmth and moisture of the mouth.

Another object is to provide a dispensing container in cigarette form for dispensing through the mouth medicaments or the like which are capable of being slowly dissolved, vaporized or evaporated when Warmth and moisture of the users mouth, and which will be subsequently inhaled or swallowed.

The invention comprises, briefly speaking, a container in the general form of a cigarette having perforations adjacent one end by which the medicament or other substance is exposed to the warmth and moisture .of the users mouth, and out of which the substance then passes into the users mouth, Means are also provided for moving the medicament or other substance in the container toward the perforated end .of the same into a position to be consumed.

The invention will best be understood from the following description constituting a specification of the same, when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of one form of the invention; 7

Figure 2 is a plan view of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the form of the invention shown. in Figures 1 and 2, showing the interior of the same and illustrating the manner in which substances are positioned in the container when in use;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 5- is a plan view of the modified term of the, invention;

brought into contact with the of circular cross-section,

be dispensed.

end 3 of the tube I Figure 6 is a plan view of another modified formof the invention; and V V I Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1- of l igure 6-, looking in the direction 7 indicated by the arrows.

Referring to he drawings in greater detail, the invention comprises a co-{tainer I, of-generally cylindrical shape, closed at ,one end, as indicated by 2. The opposite end 3 of the container is preferably open for the insertion of any suitable medicament or the like which it is desired to dispense. V r V The container l can b e .formed' of any suitable material, such as plastic paper, metal ,or other material having the requisite physical characteristics adapting-it for the-purpose to it is to be applied. .While the container is preferably indicated in Figures 4 and 7 otherdesirable shapes may be employed, such as may be dictated bytne materials avail able or the particular nature of. the substance to The container may pe eonstrdet d for a Single use, in which case it will preferablyhave the form indicated in Figures 1 to '5, inclusive, andis provided with a corrugated strip 5 along one side formed by two p'frail'ei cuts 6 and 1 extending through the wall of thecontainer." The corru gated strip 5 extends from a point near the open to a point spaced from the closed end 2 where it merges with the wall of the I Adjacent the'closed end of the tube the wall is provided with suitable perforations which in the case of the form shown by Figures 1,- 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings take the shape of small slits 9 arranged generally transversely of the tube.

' may be provided with The slits 9 may be arranged entirely about the circumference of thetube, or,- as indicated in Figure 6, they may be arranged only inselected areas of the tube walls.- In place of the small slits 9, the portion of the tube adjacent the closed end circular perforations, as

, indicated in Figure 5; these perforations l0 preferably'being arranged about the periphery of the tube to assure an even distribution of the same over the entireperfiorated area.

, The invention may alsfo tali the form indicated in Figures 6' and 7 of the drawings, and this form is particularly for use in the'provision of a dispenser of a more permanent character adapted for re-use, and which may be repeatedly refilled with the desired substances. This form of the invention comprises s me hape .of tube having the samecl osed end 2 aiid open end 3, and provided; with the slits Q previously referred to. A

longitudinal slot [2 is provided in one side of the tube extending from the open end 3 to the areas in which the slits 9 are located. A slidable member or disc I3 is positioned inside the tube and has a connecting portion l4 extending through the longitudinal slot l2 for connection to a Split ring I5 which partially encircles the tube. The movable member I3 is preferably of slightly smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the tube and the encircling portion l5 clasps the outside of the tube in a manner to maintain the member l3 in any position in the tube to which it is moved. 7

In the use of the form of the invention shown by Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the substance to be dispensed, preferably in the form of compressed tablets I6, is placed inside the tube I, and a portion I! of the corrugated strip 5 is bent inwardly near the open end of the tube to hold the tablet l6 ,firmly in place. When the container is held in the users mouth, the action of biting on the area of the tube having the slits 9 will tend to open the slits and thereby. subject the substance in this portion of the tube to the action of the warmth and moisture of the users mouth, resulting in a slow dissolving, vaporizing or evaporation of the substance which subsequently passes out through the slits 9 and into the users mouth. The closed end 2 of the tube serves to prevent the substance in the tube from coming into direct contact with the users tongue.

As. the substance in the tube is consumed, further portions may be moved into the area containing the slits or perforations by pushing down on the strip 5, which will advance the tablet l6 toward the closed end 2 of the tube.

In the use of the form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7, the movable member I3 is removed from the tube I by grasping the outer member l5 and sliding the same ofi of the open end 3 .of the tube. The medicament or other material can then be inserted through the open end 3 of the tube and the member l3 replaced to retain the medicament in the device. This form of the invention is used in the same manner-as previously described, except that as the substance in the tube is consumed, the movable member I3 is moved toward the closed end 2 to assure a constant supply of medicament in the area of the tube in which the slits 9 are provided.

The form of the invention illustrated by Figures 6 and 7 is intended to be made of more durable material than the previously described form, in .order to provide a device which is capable of reuse, whereas the form of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, may be made of paper or other sheet material intended for disposal after the medicament has become exhausted.

The device shown by Figure 5 is similar in all respects to that described in connection with Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, except that the perforations H! are provided adjacent the closed end of the tube, instead. of the small slits 9, and in this case the medicament contained in the tube will be readily dispensed without the necessity for biting the end of the tube to permit the entrance of moisture from the users mouth.

It will be apparent that theprovision of the slits 9 provide a means by which easily soluble substances can be dispensed in a slow and controlled manner, since the entrance of moisture into the tube and the escape of the medicament into the mouth of the user depends upon the amount of opening of the slits, and this opening is controlled by the pressure exerted by the user when holding the device between his teeth.

It will thus be apparent that the invention as described above provides a convenient means of dispensing through the mouth substances of any desired character which are capable of being dissolved, vaporized or evaporated by the warmth and moisture of the users mouth when the device is employed in the manner of a cigarette.

The operation of the invention is thought to be obvious from the above description of the structure of the various forms of the device, and it is considered unnecessary to enumerate the various substances which. can be conveniently dispensed in this manner, since any substance which is affected by the moisture and warmth from the users mouth can be administered in this manner.

The invention makes possible a retarded dispensing oi the contents of the tube, which is at all times completely under the control of the user, and maybe as protracted as is desirable or necessary, thus adding to the users enjoyment or benefit.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a simple and convenient means, capable of extremely wide application, in the popular form of a cigarette, whereby the chief enjoyment and elfect of smoking is obtained without the attendant disadvantages of the fire hazard and irritation caused by the smoking of ordinary cigarettes.

It will readily be appreciated that the forms of the invention described above are intended for purposes of illustration only, and numerous changes in the details of construction, arrangement of the parts, and materials employed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for dispensing volatile medicaments comprising a cylindrical-shaped container having an open end for the ingress of medicament therethrough, and its other end closed and adapted to be inserted in the users mouth, there being a plurality of openings arranged adjacent said closed end for the egress therethrough of the volatilized medicaments, said container having a longitudinally-extending slot extending from a point contiguous to said openings toward said open end, and means on said container and engaging said slot for moving said medicaments toward said closed end of said container.

2. A device for dispensing volatile medicaments comprising a container having an open end for the ingress of medicaments therethrough and its other end closed and adapted to be inserted in the users mouth, there being a plurality of openings arranged adjacent said closed end for the egress therethrough of the volatilized medicaments, said container having a longitudinally-extending slot extending from a point contiguous to said openings toward said open end, and means embodying a corrugated strip mounted for vertical movement into and out of said slot for moving said medicaments toward said closed end of said container.

3. A device for dispensing volatile medicaments comprising a cylindrical-shaped container having an open end for the ingress of medicaments therethrough andits other end closed and adapted to be inserted in the users mouth, there being a plurality of openings arranged adjacent said closed end for the egress therethrough of the volatilized medicaments, said container having a longitudinally-extending slot extending from a point contiguous to said openings toward said open end, and means embodying a split ring encircling said container and mounted for slid- 5 able movement in said slot for moving said medicaments toward said closed end of said container.

WALTER R. CEPERLY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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